Nio ES8: Which Version Should You Buy?
The Nio ES8 version choice comes down to three priorities: documented acceleration, battery designation, and generation.
The Nio ES8 version choice comes down to three priorities: documented acceleration, battery designation, and generation. The 1 generation offers four versions and reaches 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds; the 2 generation cuts that time to 4.1 seconds and offers AT 75 kWh, AT 100 kWh, and AT 150 kWh versions with identical recorded output; the 3 generation AT has the highest power figure, 707 hp, but its acceleration, top speed, battery capacity, weight, and chassis measurements are not measured in the supplied specifications. On the available numbers, the 2 generation is the clearest performance choice, while the 1 generation provides the most complete weight, clearance, wheel, and top-speed data.
Nio ES8 generations compared
The 1 generation started in June 2018 and is an SUV 5-doors with four listed versions. They are AT 84 kWh with 653 hp, AT 70 kWh with 653 hp, AT 100 kWh with 653 hp, and a second AT 70 kWh distinguished by its 544 hp output. Every version uses an Electro powertrain, Automatic gearbox with 1 gear, and AWD. All four take 4.9 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h and have a recorded top speed of 200 km/h.
The 2 generation started in June 2023 and is also an SUV 5-doors. Its three versions are AT 75 kWh, AT 100 kWh, and AT 150 kWh. Each produces 645 hp and 866 Nm, uses an Electro powertrain, an Automatic gearbox with 1 gear, and AWD, and reaches 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds. Because the recorded power, torque, acceleration, transmission, and drive are the same, the supplied data does not establish a performance advantage for one battery designation over another.
The 3 generation started in September 2025 and remains an SUV 5-doors. Its sole listed version, AT, produces 707 hp and 700 Nm through an Automatic gearbox with 1 gear and AWD. The powertrain type is Electro, but fuel is not measured. Acceleration and top speed are also not measured, so its additional power cannot be translated into a documented straight-line advantage over the earlier generations.
Nio ES8 engine and specs
As an electric SUV, the ES8 has no recorded engine displacement. Cylinder count, cylinder layout, and boost are not measured for every version, so power per litre cannot be calculated without inventing a displacement figure.
| Generation and exact version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 generation — AT 84 kWh | 653 hp | 840 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1 gear | AWD |
| 1 generation — AT 70 kWh (653 hp) | 653 hp | 840 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1 gear | AWD |
| 1 generation — AT 100 kWh | 653 hp | 840 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1 gear | AWD |
| 1 generation — AT 70 kWh (544 hp) | 544 hp | not measured | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1 gear | AWD |
| 2 generation — AT 75 kWh | 645 hp | 866 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1 gear | AWD |
| 2 generation — AT 100 kWh | 645 hp | 866 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1 gear | AWD |
| 2 generation — AT 150 kWh | 645 hp | 866 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1 gear | AWD |
| 3 generation — AT | 707 hp | 700 Nm | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1 gear | AWD |
The strongest 1 generation versions exceed the 544 hp AT 70 kWh by 109 hp. The 2 generation’s 645 hp is 8 hp below the 653 hp versions, yet its 866 Nm is 26 Nm higher and its 0–100 km/h time is 0.8 seconds quicker. The 3 generation AT adds 62 hp over the 2 generation versions, but produces 166 Nm less torque according to the recorded figures.
Nio ES8 performance and economy
| Generation and exact version | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | City consumption | Highway consumption | Combined consumption | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 generation — AT 84 kWh | 4.9 seconds | 200 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 1 generation — AT 70 kWh (653 hp) | 4.9 seconds | 200 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 1 generation — AT 100 kWh | 4.9 seconds | 200 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 1 generation — AT 70 kWh (544 hp) | 4.9 seconds | 200 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 2 generation — AT 75 kWh | 4.1 seconds | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 2 generation — AT 100 kWh | 4.1 seconds | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 2 generation — AT 150 kWh | 4.1 seconds | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | 0 |
| 3 generation — AT | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
For buyers choosing by verified acceleration, any 2 generation version is preferable to any 1 generation version: 4.1 seconds versus 4.9 seconds to 100 km/h. That is a 0.8-second reduction, despite the 2 generation producing 8 hp less than the strongest 1 generation versions.
No city, highway, or combined consumption figure is measured for any ES8 version. Electric range is also not measured. Consequently, the AT 75 kWh, AT 100 kWh, and AT 150 kWh labels should not be treated as evidence of a specific range difference in this comparison. The data identifies their battery designations but provides no measured distance figures.
Nio ES8 dimensions, weight, and wheels
Exterior dimensions, gross weight, and tank capacity are not measured for any listed version. Kerb weight, ground clearance, and wheel sizes are available only for the 1 generation.
| Generation and exact version | Kerb weight | Gross weight | Ground clearance | Tank | Wheel sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 generation — AT 84 kWh | 2,460 kg | not measured | 170 mm | not measured | 265/45 R21; 255/55 R19 |
| 1 generation — AT 70 kWh (653 hp) | 2,460 kg | not measured | 170 mm | not measured | 265/45 R21; 255/55 R19 |
| 1 generation — AT 100 kWh | 2,495 kg | not measured | 170 mm | not measured | 265/45 R21; 255/55 R19 |
| 1 generation — AT 70 kWh (544 hp) | 2,425 kg | not measured | 170 mm | not measured | 265/45 R21; 255/55 R19 |
| 2 generation — AT 75 kWh | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 2 generation — AT 100 kWh | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 2 generation — AT 150 kWh | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 3 generation — AT | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
Within the 1 generation, the 544 hp AT 70 kWh is the lightest at 2,425 kg. The AT 84 kWh and 653 hp AT 70 kWh each weigh 2,460 kg, making them 35 kg heavier. The AT 100 kWh is heaviest at 2,495 kg: 35 kg above those two versions and 70 kg above the 544 hp AT 70 kWh.
Calculated from the supplied kerb weights and outputs, the AT 84 kWh and 653 hp AT 70 kWh each carry about 3.77 kg per horsepower. The AT 100 kWh carries about 3.82 kg per horsepower, while the 544 hp AT 70 kWh carries about 4.46 kg per horsepower. This gives the AT 84 kWh and 653 hp AT 70 kWh the strongest documented weight-to-power relationship, although all four have the same recorded 4.9-second acceleration time.
Which Nio ES8 version should you choose?
Choose the 2 generation AT 75 kWh if the priority is documented acceleration and no larger battery designation is required. It matches the AT 100 kWh and AT 150 kWh at 645 hp, 866 Nm, AWD, and 4.1 seconds to 100 km/h. Price and range are not measured, so the data cannot show whether moving to either larger designation buys better value or longer driving distance.
Choose the 2 generation AT 100 kWh or AT 150 kWh only when the battery designation itself is part of the requirement. Neither has a recorded power, torque, or acceleration advantage over AT 75 kWh. The extra money involved is not measurable here because price is not provided, and what it buys in range is likewise not measured.
Among the 1 generation versions, choose AT 84 kWh or AT 70 kWh (653 hp) for the best documented weight-to-power relationship. Both combine 653 hp, 840 Nm, a 2,460 kg kerb weight, and 4.9-second acceleration. Choose AT 100 kWh if its battery designation matters more than mass: it retains 653 hp and 840 Nm but weighs 35 kg more, with no recorded acceleration or top-speed gain.
The 544 hp AT 70 kWh is 35 kg lighter than the other AT 70 kWh, but it gives up 109 hp and has the weakest calculated weight-to-power figure. Its acceleration remains the same recorded 4.9 seconds, while torque is not measured. On specifications alone, it has no clear performance advantage.
Choose the 3 generation AT for the highest headline output: 707 hp, which is 62 hp above every 2 generation version and 54 hp above the strongest 1 generation versions. However, it is not yet the evidence-led performance choice because its acceleration, top speed, kerb weight, ground clearance, wheels, consumption, and range are not measured. For a decision based on the fullest set of comparable numbers, the 2 generation AT 75 kWh is the strongest all-round selection; for the most thoroughly documented chassis and weight specifications, the 1 generation AT 84 kWh or 653 hp AT 70 kWh is easier to assess.